After the coronation of Hashem on Rosh Hashana and meriting clemency for our sins on Yom Kippur, we head into the beautiful and inspiring Yom Tov of Succos. In order to appreciate the fundamental theme of Succos we first have to quote the words of our Sages.
Moshe in his final moments addressing the nation cautions them to be attentive to the entire communication that has been delivered to them. They will soon be leaving the protective buttress of the desert. There they lived a life constantly supported by miracles.
We have a massive court case pending. It’s called Rosh Hashanah. The Talmud explains that the books of Life and Death are opened and each and every person’s entire life history of the past year is examined in great detail. Not a point is overlooked or not dealt with.
The Torah states that Moshe ‘went’ and then spoke to the nation. However, it is not clear where did Moshe go? Rav Shlomo Kluger presents a fascinating explanation which will serve us well in 2026. At the end of his life, Moshe no longer has the faculty to disseminate Torah…
When the owner of a field brings his first ripened fruits to the Beis Hamikdash, he recites an entire litany that he has followed all the rules that pertain to tithing his produce
One of the perks of studying Torah is a glimpse into understanding life with tremendous insight and bringing to light principles that will guide us for our entire journey. This week we learn about the wayward son known as the ‘ben sorar u’morah.’
We are introduced to a very complex parsha of the corpse found between two cities. A measurement is done and the closest city is considered liable for the death of the individual. That of course in of itself is an interesting point to reflect upon but beyond that the end…
The end of the parsha deals with animals that we are prohibited to consume. The commentators intertwine the theme of sanctity which defines the nation with the ban against those forbidden animals. Nachmonides and others explain that the essence of the proscribed animals is antithesis to the very nature of…
The mitzvah to thank Hashem after a meal, specifically one of bread, is mentioned in the parsha. However, the context of this mitzvah is very puzzling. Obviously, one must thank Hashem for the meal that he has just enjoyed. But the language used in the Torah does not emphasize…
Moshe provides a glimpse of the future challenges that the nation will engage. Idol worship will entice them and some will indeed fall prey to the falsehoods of emptiness that appear to be real and existent. Of course, eventually the people will awaken to their massive error and return to…
We often don’t assess well the results of our decisions. Being short-sighted is a problem which can lead to long term disastrous consequences. Perhaps that is a lesson to be learned from the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash that occurred on Tisha B’av.
The end of sefer Bamidbar concludes that these are the mitzvos that were conveyed to the people ‘in the hand of Moshe’ whereas the conclusion of the previous sefer Vayikra ends that these are the mitzvos that were transmitted to Moshe. Why is there a variation of the language between…
Pinchas killed a prince of the nation who was intimately involved with a non-Jewish princess from Midian. Certainly, one would praise such an act of bravery ignoring the status of the person involved and instead protecting the nation from experiencing within its midst such a travesty. However, just the opposite…
The episode of Moshe hitting the rock instead of speaking to it is quite puzzling. It seems as though the punishment does not fit the crime. Although as the Midrash states if Moshe would have spoken to the rock the nation would have clearly perceived the greatness and magnitude of…
The episode of Korach dampened the prestige of the Kohanim. Perhaps after Korach challenged Moshe’s authority to bestow upon Ahron and his children the opportunity and obligation to serve in the Mishkan and later in the Beis Hamikdash the nation would not respect them.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, the supreme halachic decider of the previous generation asks why the parsha of Tzitzis begins on a different note then most of the mitzvos presented in the Torah. Usually, the introduction of a mitzvah is with the words “And Hashem spoke” whereas when Moshe relays the mitzvah…
Some moments are too meaningful to photograph. Thankfully, they aren’t too meaningful to remember. What a beautiful evening of great food, meaningful conversation, and inspiring Torah.
When the people were offering the Pesach sacrifice there were those that were defiled after having been in contact with corpses. They came to Moshe and exclaimed that they wanted desperately to bring the Pesach offering but were unable to due to their circumstances. Moshe did not respond to them…
The Mishkan was a highly celebrated event in the nation. It was the culmination of months of hard work after a very successful fundraising campaign that covered all the expenses necessary for its construction. The Torah compares its completion as that of a bride, a kallah, entering into the chupah,…
